What's on at Grassroots Sound studio, one of Manitoba's top recording studios.
Well here goes another week. Had Marc Arnould and Scott Hills (formerly of the Perpetraters) in last Sunday doing some hammond organ tracks on Scotts new solo project . Some really cool tunes and the usual masterful keyboard work by Marc. Another one to watch for cause its gonna be a good one.Spent the better part of the week getting the live gear ready for the summer festival season and working up some quotes for an assortment of live projects and ruuning off discs for Terry Bell , Bill Rumley and Bill Ballantyne. Started working up tunes for a live project with Rick Burt and Laurie Sabiston (yes its true , Shoes for The Dog is back and ready to play some swampy blues ,roots rock and whatever else turns our crank). Should be another fun project with the potential to earn tens of dollars but its all good cause we amuse ourselves and it keeps us from hanging around the 7-11s. Making a few more changes to the studio layout. ( photos will follow as soon as I get off my ass and take some and post them. Talk to you later. The Wayne Dude
Here I am . Back from Australia Spent the first 2 weeks back trying to catch up on all the things that piled up while I was gone. Rick Burt’s C.d is in listening to final mixes stage and sounding most excellent. Had Terry Bell in last week doing another take on his herbal remedies series and laying down a track or 2 for his future album project. Last thursday evening I took a spin out to Carberry Manitoba to catch Wendell Fergussen and Katherine Wheatley’s show and touch bases with 2 good friends who are always a musical inspiration and as always they didn’t disappoint. Friday night I took in the jam out in Beausejour and played a wack of tunes with a number of different artists. A good time was had by all. The Boys from Tinitus were in to lay down a few more tracks on their project after winning some cash in a battle of the bands. A few more tracks and the vocals and we’ll be ready to mix this one. It keeps threatening to warm up and then gets cold again leading me to think global “warming” is a myth , although at least the snow is gone and I can see all the things I didn’t get cleaned up last fall. (oh crap, more work). Oh yeah, the Point Nepean Festival in Australia was awesome. Fogerty played for an hour and a half and was amazing. Still got all the stuff. Mavis Saples was excellent. So was Keith Urban, Jeff Lang played stuff on the guitar that was mind boggling. John Hammond ,Xzavier Rudd, K.T. Tunstall , all too good and Ruthie Foster was a treat. Man can that woman sing. More fun and enjoyment than a man should be allowed to have but I’ll take it. I’ll be back with more news at it comes in. Smoke em if you got em. Wayne
Holy crap it’s cold out. Drove out to Falcon Lake to do sound for Dameon Stiles and his Rod Stewart Show on the weekend. Nothing like hauling a trailer load of gear through a blizzard to improve your grip on a stearing wheel. The show was great and all seamed to have a good time.(and they fed us all we could eat) Rick Burt was in Friday night with Sandy Truthwaite doing keyboard tracks and last wednesay with Ken Bialek on guitar and Andrew Goertzen on pedal steel. Last weekend he had Al Popowich on Bass and Fred Redekopp on mandolin to lay down the beds for the last couple of tunes(or 3) so we’re getting close to mixing time on this one and I have to say it’s going to turn a few heads in the roots and blues community. Oh yeah, He also had Rick and Kim in to do some back-up vocals. On Saturday morning(I know, what self -respecting musician is up in the morning? But I had to be in Falcon Lake in the afternoon) Jearri Czapla came in with Richard Wassil from Edmonton do a Harmonica track on his tune. Great meeting Richard and hearing him play for the first time(for me) and I’m sure we’ll cross musical paths in the future. I’ll say goodbye now but I have to tell you this weather sure makes me appreciate the floor heat I installed in the studio. See you in a snowbank soon. Wayne
Well this week is my birthday and it happens to fall on a night when I’m hosting open mic and jam night(thursday the 24th) so I guess the party will be at the bar. All are welcome to come down and play some tunes , listen or just goof off depending on your mood. Last weekend i did sound for a great band called Average Jane. and did a show with Bruce Bell. On sunday Tinnitus was in laying down the bed tracks to 4 more tunes for their project. These guys are always fun and have an awsomely tight project happening too. Check them out when you get a chance(P.S. they won’tr be playing any country music) this weekend I play a show at the art gallery with Judy Cook and Swingset.(family entertainment) Judy entertains and Hal Brolund and I go with our strenghths which is generally being fools. Got a jam to attend friday evening with Craig Buckboro and gang and saturday I’ll be playing with Rick Prevost at a fundraiser in the city. I guess the big news is my solo C.D. is done and packaged so I’m getting the promo kits ready to be sent out and I’ll let you know where you can pick up copies. By the way the bar I’m at every thursday from 8 till 1 is downstairs at Gaffers in Lockport. Hope to see you there. Remember , the best jobs to do are the ones that are already finished,. Wayne
Well happy Holidays to everone. I’ve been a liitle lax in my postings which I’ll try to blame on someone else(even if it’s not true) It was a busy stretch for the last few months before Christmas with everyone trying to finish up things before the break. Marylin is back from her vacation and ready to finish up the last tracks of her C.D.jack Meade was in and we recorded mixed and mastered a Christmas tune of his wit Ken Bialek on guitar , Garnet Knight on Dobro, Elaine Markwort on harmonies Myself on Bass guitar and Phil on the drums.Kris got his demo done (3 original tunes) Sounds great and was a fun time arranging and recording over a 3 day stretch.Thanks to Paul Katsnelson for his mixing help on Kris and Jack’s tunes and also on the first release for Tinitis which sounds huge. Great job guys. On the playinf front had 2 different New Years gigs get cancelled which is always a bummer. I’m playing this weekend with Jeari Czapla and Laurie Sabiston so that will be a hoot. Got a gig with Bruce bell next week and one this month with Judy cook and Swingset. Try not to get to busy wiyh yhose New Year’s Resolutions(or was that Revolutions? I’m never sure) have fun till the next one. Wayne
I’m off to B.C. for a few days to visit the relatives and a few other friends. Got some jammin planned with Eric’s band and then i’m off to Seattle with my brother to race his 1967 Mustang. At his last meet he ran the quarter mile in 9.83 seconds and 137 miles per hour. He’s got that 427 just screaming. Should be a hoot and very loud. Last weekend Clint and the boys from Tinitis were in laying downtracks for their new project. got the tracks down for the first 2 songs and it’s going great. we’ll be back on this when I get back. Marsha was in on sunday to do the harmonies on the last song on my solo project. We mixed it Monday night and I’m reaaly happy with the final result. Monday afternoon ,Shirley was in to do vocals on the Patsy Cline Tribute demo and that’s completed , mixed, mastered and down the road. Well talk again next week provide I’m not abducted by aliens. Wayne
Let’s hope he doesn’t trip. Another week and we’re working on the demo for the Patsy Cline tribute. Just finishing tracking and it sounds pretty darn good. Rick Prevost on guitar, Sandy Truthwaite on keys, Paul Cerilli on the kit , Garnet knight on violin and me on the upright Basss. Shirley Handslip will be in mondat to do the vocals and then we mix. Friday is the Buck Bash at Craig Buckboro’s place. Lots of musicians and all night playing. Should be a fun one. Saturday has Clint’s band in to start work on their new project and judging by their live show a couple of weeks ago in Pinawa they’re ready to rock out. Sunday Marsha is in to finish up the last song on my solo project so it’ll be ready for mastering next week. Catch you soon providing I’m using the right bait. WAYNE
Well there’s leaves everywhere and I’m trying to avoid raking (time to fire up the mulcher on the mower) In the studio this week I’m doing some mandolin tracks on Marylin’s tunes and maybe an acoustic guitar solo on one. sterling Ranville was in to check out the studio and set up some times to start working on some of his tunes for a new C.D. project. Going to be some bluegrass and country flavored gospel tunes with an assortment of crack musicians. Should be another good one so I’ll keep you posted as it progresses. This weekend I’ll be doing sound in Pinawa for a fund-raiser for a fallen comrade who contracted west nile virus and could use a hand. 2 bands and some solo performers should put on an excellent show. Sunday Mark Waterman, Mel and their band are in to work on the first tune of their new project. More updates to follow as we progress. Sunday evening will have another live performance with Bruce Bell so it’s more fun for Wayne. I’ll be back with more news next week providing I’m not abducted by aliens or just brain dead. Always a hoot. Catch you then. Wayne
At least I think it forgot ,or maybe it was me that forgot (I don’t remember) Well the pine Falls adventure certainly was one with 2 blown tires on my equipment trailer ( the first while doing 110 kph with a full load) that was more than a little scary and majorly annoying. Oh well made it thru the weekend. played some tunes with one of the local bands and did a show Sunday afternoon with Bruce Bell on the waterfront in selkirk that went real well. Last night we did the Gerald Falster C.D. release in winnipeg. Had Matt Moskalyk, Garnet Knight, Laurie Sabiston , Dennis Johnston and myself backing him up and had a great time. I opened with a set of originals and a few covers with Matt and Garnet and we even got fed (very important to starving musicians). Got a rehearsal with Bullrush tonite for the gig on Saturday out in Petersfield and a rehearsal on Sunday with Elaine and the rest of that crew for the upcoming anniversary and birthday event for the Geurts’. It’s their 65th anniversary and Albert’s 90th birthday. Any excuse for a party in that family. Well basck to it cause it looks like summer’s almost over and i’ve still got tons to do. Just remember……. If you can’t remember if you did it , it probably wasn’t that good. Talk to ya later Wayne
Well, the last couple of weeks were takin up by visiting from the Australian contingent . So tunes were played, beer was consumed and a lot of junk food was eaten(my usual M.O.) Marylin was in working on her stuff and we’ve got a pretty good idea of the final sounds we’re looking for.Went to a social on friday for one of the vocalists for the Muddy River Stringers (Marsha) who can also be heard on a bunch of studio projects including my solo C.D. Sat in with the band and did a few tunes with my good friend Rick Prevost and the rest of the gang and as usual had too much fun. Saturday was a surprise birthday party for Perry David who I played with a ways back in a band called Landslide. Got up and played some tunes with Perry , Shannon, Elaine Markwart and Ted longbottom and once again had a great time.Last week I got together with Shirley Hanslip to dicuss putting together a Patsy Cline tribute project and some possible recording so i’m busy assembling a band of crack musicians for this project. This weekend I’ll be out at the 4P Festival in Pine Falls doing some live sound, recording and playing and also playing the Waterfront in selkirk on Sunday with Bruce Bell and friends. Gonna be another busy one. Ihave to send my best out to rick prevost whose dad just passed away and to kenny Bialek’s wife Dianne who’se spending some time in the hospital with heart problems. Take care of yourseves and stay well. I’ll be back and you can take that as a threat or a promise. See you then. wayne
Well we’re basking in the sun and heat and I can’t believe the number of people that say it’s too hot. Wait a few months , it’ll snow and they won’t be so hot. Had a great weekend at the Manitoba Stampede and once again we proved our playing can drive people to drink. Got a preliminary mix done on Marylin’s disc so they can decide what else needs doing and the harmony wenches can work up their parts. ( Elaine Markwart and Joanne Fontaine will be in to do the back-up vocals. Brian Bannab will be in to do some mandolin and some harmonica. On Friday Debbie Turner is coming in to do a demo for a radio station in New York of one of her tunes about reunions. Looking forward to that one. Well, back to work. I can only goof off for so long before someone reminds me of all the things that need doing. Catch you next week. Unless you run real fast. Wayne
